Cape
Hatteras National Seashore is holding public scoping meetings to
consider changes to the seashore’s Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) special
regulation as it relates to morning opening of beaches, extending the
length of fall and spring seasonal ORV routes, and modifying the size
and location of vehicle free areas.

Public scoping will help inform the development of alternatives that
will be analyzed in an Environmental Assessment (EA).

The public meetings are required by legislation passed by Congress last
December as part of the Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2015.
The legislation is intended to provide more access to the seashore for
pedestrians and ORVs, especially during the nesting season for
shorebirds and sea turtles.

Additional information on the public scoping and EA process will be provided in advance of the public meetings.

Also as part of the legislation, the Park Service was required to
examine and make modifications wildlife buffers during nesting, which
it did with an EA issued last month.

It
was also required to fast track certain additions to the park
infrastructure, including new ramps and an interdunal road, to allow
for more public access. The seashore announced a revised plan for new
infrastructure in the spring.

The Park Service must report back to Congress on how it has responded to the legislation by Dec. 19.